Container with collapsible tray



May 12, 1959 A. J. KATZ CONTAINER; WITH COLLAPSIBLE' TRAY Filed May 26,1955 2 IN VEN TOR. 4/4fi0/V J M72 BY J/Laclmm ArraP/ 'X United StatesPatent CONTAINER WITH COLLAPSIBLE TRAY Aaron J. Katz, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,217

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-) This invention relates to a container, and moreparticularly a container of the drinking cup type provided with acollapsible tray.

Although various types of containers of the drinking cup type have beenproduced, their use usually results in leaving a ring of fluid on theresting surface for the container. This results from fluid which runsdown the outside of the container. Not only is this generallyundesirable, but it may also cause irreparable damage to furniture andother such objects.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a new andimproved container with a collapsible tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer of the drinking cup type having a tray which can be collapsedto yield a container of standard configuration.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer with a collapsible tray which is of the unbreakable type.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer with collapsible tray which may be efl'iciently stacked forstoring and shipping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer with collapsible tray which is easily operated and used and isinexpensive to manufacture.

The above objects and many other objects of the invention are achievedby providing a collapsible container having a bottom portion which formsa bottom recess. A tray With a substantially circular periphery has itscentral portion secured with the bottom portion of the container.

The edge portion of the tray extends beyond the bottom of the containerand is provided with a plurality of transverse fold lines extending fromits central portion to its periphery. The edge portion of the tray isfoldable into the bottom recess of the container with its peripheryforming a central opening. The central opening allows the folded tray tobe easily grasped for opening to its extended position.

The container may be made of a flexible material such as cardboard whichwill render it non-breakable and inexpensive. The container may be inthe shape of a frustum with its bottom of reduced diameter so that onemay be received within another for eflicient storage and shipping.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become moreapparent as the following detailed description of the invention is readin conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a container embodying theinvention having a portion broken away to show its tray in the collapsedposition,

Figure 2 is an inverted plan View of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a View similar to that of Figure 1 showing the collapsibletray in its extended position, and

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of Figure 3.

2,886,229 Patented May 12, 1959 Like numerals designate like partsthroughout the several views.

Refer now to the figures which disclose a container 10 embodying theinvention comprising a wall portion 12 and a bottom portion 14 formingan internal cavity 16. If desired the wall portion 12 and the bottom 14may be made of a cardboard material to render it non-breakable andinexpensive, although other materials may be utilized.

The wall 12 also may have the configuration of a frustum with its topedge 18 having a diameter greater than its lower edge 20. Thisconstruction allows the efiicient stacking and economical shipping of aplurality of containers one within another.

The bottom portion 14 of the container 10 is positioned from the bottomedge 20 of the wall portion 12 to form a bottom recess 22.

A foldable tray 24 which may also be made of a flexible material such ascardboard having a substantially circular central portion 26 bounded bycentral fold lines 28 and having a substantially circular outerperiphery 30.

The central portion 26 of the tray 24 is secured with the bottom portion14 of the container 10 at 32, such as by gluing or any other suitablemeans. The periphery 30 of the tray 24 extends beyond the wall portion12 and provides the tray 24 with a fluid retaining edge portion 34 asclearly shown by Figures 3 and 4.

The edge portion 34 of the tray is provided with a plurality oftransverse fold lines extending from the central fold lines 28 to theperiphery 30 of the tray 24. The radial fold lines 36 intersect at theirinwardly directed ends with the angular fold lines 38 forming thealternate segments 40 and 42. The segments 40 are substantiallytriangular in form, while their adjacent segments 42 are four sidedfigures approximating parallelograms.

The transverse fold lines 36 and 38 allow the retaining edge portion 34to be folded into the bottom recess 22 of the container 10, asillustrated in the Figures 1 and 2. In its folded position the periphery30 of the tray 24 forms an opening 44 which allows the tray to be easilygrasped and extended to its open position for use.

When the tray 24 is in its collapsed condition, the container then hasthe configuration of a frustum and can be used and stored in theordinary manner. When the fluid is to be dispensed, the foldable tray 24of the container 10 may be readily extended to protect the surface uponwhich the container may be placed from spilled material or materialrunning down the wall 12 of the container. The tray will also reducedripping from the bottom of the container when it is carried. It is alsonoted that the tray serves to further insulate the bottom of thecontainer so as to protect the surface upon which it rests from heatwhen a hot substance is retained by the container 10. The extended tray24 also adds stability to the container 10 making it more diflicult toaccidentally tip and spill its contents.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawings,herein contained, are illustrative merely, and that variousmodifications and changes may be made in the container device disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having a bottom portion forming a bottom recess, and atray secured with the bottom of said container having an edge portionextendible beyond the bottom of said container for providing acontinuous marginal area surrounding the bottom of said container, theedge of said tray being folded into the bottom recess of said container.

2. A container having a bottom portion forming a bottom recess, and asubstantially circular tray secured with the bottom of said containerhaving an edge portion extendible beyond the bottom of said containerfor providing a continuous marginal area surrounding the bottom of saidcontainer, the edge of said tray being provided with a plurality oftransverse fold lines and being folded entirely into the bottom recessof said container.

3. A substantially cylindrical container having a bottom portion forminga bottom recess and a tray secured with the bottom of said containerhaving a substantially circular periphery with an edge portionextendible beyond the bottom of said container for providing acontinuous marginal area surrounding the bottom of said container, theedge portion of said tray being provided with a plurality of transversefold lines extending to its periphery and being folded entirely into thebottom recess of said container, the periphery of said tray forming acentral opening when in the folded position within the bottom recess ofsaid container.

4. A container in the shape of a frustum having a bottom portion ofreduced diameter and forming a bottom recess, and a tray having acentral portion secured with the bottom portion of said container havinga substantially circular periphery with an edge portion extendiblebeyond the bottom of said container for providing a continuous marginalarea surrounding the bottom of said container, the edge portion of saidtray being provided with a plurality of transverse fold lines extendingto its periphery from its central portion, the edge portion of said traybeing folded entirely into the bottom recess of said container, theperiphery of said tray forming a central opening when in its foldedposition within the bottom recess of said container.

5. A flexible container in the shape of a frustum having a bottomportion of reduced diameter and forming a bottom recess, and a flexibletray having a substantially circular central portion permanently securedwith the bottom portion of said container and having a substantiallycircular periphery with an edge portion extendible beyond the bottom ofsaid container for providing a continuous marginal area surrounding thebottom of said container, the edge portion of said tray being providedwith a plurality of transverse fold lines extending to its peripheryfrom its central portion, the edge portion of said tray being foldedentirely into the bottom recess of said container, the periphery of saidtray forming a central opening when in its folded position within thebottom recess of said container.

6. A container having a substantially horizontal bottom with a boundaryedge, and a tray secured with the bottom of said container having anedge portion extendible beyond the boundary edge of the bottom of saidcontainer for providing a continuous marginal area surrounding thebottom of said container, the edge of said tray being folded into ahorizontal position entirely along the bottom .and within the boundaryedge of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

